It looks like the fight between Time Warner Cable Inc. and Fox television over programming costs will leave Spurs fans with one less channel for games in 2010.

A list of Time Warner Cable channels at risk in the area includes Fox Sports Southwest. According to the Spurs schedule at the team's official Web site, Fox Sports Southwest will carry 34 Spurs games in 2010 through the remainder of the regular season.

Fox owner News Corp. said it isn't likely to reach an agreement with Time Warner and expects the cable company will lose Fox programming when the deal expires at the end of today.

Time Warner said it's prepared to lose Fox programming when that agreement expires. News Corp. Chief Operating Officer Chase Carey said both sides will continue to negotiate up to the deadline.

If a deal is not reached before the end of New Year's Eve, Time Warner customers will lose access to some Fox programming. The first 2010 Spurs game on Fox Sports Southwest is Saturday against the Washington Wizards.

"We are still negotiating, but we're not optimistic we will reach a deal by Jan. 1," Fox spokesman Chris Bellitti said. "Spurs fans who are Time Warner customers should begin making alternative plans to see the games."

"We are currently in negotiations with Fox in Los Angeles at their location, and negotiations are ongoing," Time Warner spokesman Jon Gary Herrera said.

As Herrera said in a Dec. 19 San Antonio Express-News report, the dispute affects mostly stations owned and operated by Fox.

Herrera said San Antonio Fox affiliate KABB, which is owned by the Sinclair Broadcast Group, has an agreement with Time Warner that extends through next year, so it will not be affected. Fox News also is not affected by the dispute.

Herrera noted Time Warner offers its side on the matter at a Web site called rolloverorgettough.com. Fox presents its side at keepfoxon.com.

Time Warner CEO Glenn Britt said in a letter to Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), that the company would accept binding arbitration to resolve the dispute. Kerry wrote to Time Warner and Fox encouraging the companies to strike a deal. Kerry suggested they consider going to arbitration rather than letting consumers lose access to programming.

If Fox doesn't submit to arbitration, Time Warner would like to enter into an interim agreement that would allow it to continue carrying Fox programs, including football games on New Year's Day and beyond, Britt wrote.

KMYS, KSAT and KENS, as well as ESPN, TNT and NBA TV, also broadcast Spurs games and aren't affected by the Time Warner-Fox dispute.